commonpre-1900

Benjamin Franklin 5c Indigo

Name: Benjamin Franklin 5c Indigo
Brand: United States

United States · 1887 · 5c

This definitive stamp features a left-facing portrait of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. The design is based on a bust by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. The stamp is printed in a deep indigo color and was part of the 1887-1888 series of definitive issues.

Issued during the Gilded Age, this stamp was a workhorse of the postal system, primarily used for paying the single-weight Universal Postal Union (UPU) international letter rate.

Printing Method

Engraved

Themes

statesmen presidents founding-fathers portraits

Catalog Numbers

scott216

Image: · License:

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Estimated Values by Condition

Superb(S)

Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults

$25

Extremely Fine(XF)

Well centered, fresh colors

$15

Very Fine(VF)

Nicely centered, minor flaws

Fine(F)

Average centering, acceptable

Good(G)

Off-center or visible wear

Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.